I have tested a few programs (*) under Vista which could have the option: a list of the "recent folders" in the open/save dialog box (Vista naturally has one on the the left part of the open/save dialog box, but it does not work in real time).

Direct Folders should do this as well. Caveat: I've not used it under either Vista or Windows 7... However, according to their web page it should work. Note that I am basing this on having used this in the past AND on one of the screenshots from the page to which I linked. The Recent Folders option appears to be available via the context menu. I'm not sure if this option is functional in the free version or not. On the plus side, if you buy the Pro version, you get a lifetime license.

Note: some members (I believe Renegade is one) have had MAJOR issues with Codesector WRT support.

I installed DirectFolders under Windows 7 64-bit and uninstalled it shortly thereafter. Sadly, other than the information pane that appears above the Open/Save dialog, I couldn't see much that DF added (and I've never really liked the information pane to begin with!). Admittedly, I didn't really play with the settings very much, but from looking them over, I didn't see much that would compel me to keep it around.

I bought Piky Suite last time it was on Bits. Piky Folders is the only part I use though. Doesn’t do much except allow me to create a list of Favorite folders which I can access from most Open and Save dialogs. It doesn’t have "Recent" folders but Win7 already has that so I don’t need a 3rd party app for that anymore.

Ha, ha! I forgot about that - Vista has it, too. My problem has been that it populates with so many folders that they keep changing as I am trying to select the one that I want. I suppose I should get off my duff and research how to get it to show, say, only the top 12 or something folders, instead of everything I've used in the past week!

I bought Piky Suite last time it was on Bits. Piky Folders is the only part I use though. Doesnt do much except allow me to create a list of Favorite folders which I can access from most Open and Save dialogs.

BTW, you can add Favorite folders to the Favorites section of the left hand pane in Windows 7's Open/Save dialog by right clicking the Favorites folder and selecting "Add current location to Favorites". It took an embarrassingly long time for me to "remember" that one - I kept finding myself looking for Win98/2k/XP era links to the same feature. Old habits die REALLY hard

Compatibility: PikySuite products are add-ons to Windows Explorer. They also work inside other popular file managers such as Total Commander, Directory Opus (dopus), xplorer2, RecentX, XYPlorer and ExplorerXP.

OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit)

PikyFolders (is a part of PikySuite and) lets you jump to your favorite folders from within Windows file open/save window. We cannot see you using those clumsy file open/save window & folders dialog without PikyFolders.